'Game changer' weight loss drug popular among celebrities is approved for NHS use
08.03.2023 - 18:25
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A 'gamer changer' weight loss injection said to be used by celebrities is going to be made available through the NHS in England, health officials have announced.
The appetite suppressant Wegovy, also known as semaglutide, will be given to people living with obesity after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) gave it the green light on NHS use.
Thousands are expected to be offered the drug which some experts have described as a 'pivotal moment' for the treatment of obesity but others have warned it is not a 'quick fix', the MEN reports. A previous study found that people who are given the drug which comes in the form of a weekly injection saw their weight drop by 12 per cent on average after 68 weeks.
Nice has issued final guidance recommending semaglutide which is made by Novo Nordisk for adults with at least one weight-related condition and a body mass index (BMI) score of at least 35. Weight-related conditions that make obese people eligible include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, prediabetes, dyslipidemia (unbalanced or unhealthy cholesterol levels), obstructive sleep apnoea and heart disease.
In some cases, people with a BMI of 30 and over may be able to access the drug which is given via a pen injector. Wegovy will only be prescribed as part of a specialist weight management service involving input from several professionals and for a maximum of two years.
It is to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, Nice said. Patients will inject themselves weekly with the drug which suppresses the appetite through mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that is released after eating.
This makes people feel full, meaning they will eat less and lose
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